Antenna Array

Deinition o Antenna
Broadest definition of an antenna is that it is a
transducerit changes energy from one form
into another. A receiving antenna changes
electromagnetic energy into electric or magnetic
energy.
A transmitting antenna changes the energy from
electric or magnetic into electromagnetic energy.
Current flowing in the antenna induces the
electric and magnetic fields.
Antenna arrays are formed by assembling identical (in most
cases) radiating elements such as dipoles for example. n the
diagram below is shown an antenna array with its elements
along the z axis such that the distance between each two
successive elements is equal to d.
1ypes o Array antenna
ipoles, monopoles, loops, slots, microstrip
patches and horns are the most common
types of array elements.
Array antenna can be in linear ,planar or
circular array
Radiation pattern: Broadside vs.
end fire arrays
Arrays can be designed to radiate in either
broadside i.e. radiation perpendicular to array
orientation (the zaxis in figure 1) or end fire i.e.
radiation in the same direction as the array
orientation (the yaxis in figure 1).
or broadside arrays only radiation in the z direction
is considered. This allows for easy transformation to
2 dimensional planar arrays with the elements in the
xy plane. or linear arrays the radiation patterns
given below are a cross section in the yz plane.
Array lactor
Antenna arrays are characterized by their array factor
which is given by the formula
where
N the number of elements making the array, k = 2 ,
is the polar angle and is the difference of phase
between any two successive elements forming the
array.
nfluence of the element spacing on
the array factor
The array directivity
increases with the
number of elements.
Note the presence of
side Iobes next to the
main lobes: this is typical
for arrays.
The number of side lobes
and the side lobe level
increase with the number
of elements.
2 elements
4 elements
8 elements
eeding of an array
The elements were fed with the same amplitude and
phase with same distance 0.5
resulting arrays were Iinear arrays with uniform
spacing, uniform ampIitude and equaI phase
owever, the power does not necessarily have to be
distributed with equal amplitude andor phase. Unequal
power and phase distribution to the individual elements
can be used to modify the side lobe level, directivity and
direction of the main lobe.
Linear Array o n Antennas
equally spaced
antennas in line
currents of equal
magnitude
constant phase
difference between
adjacent antennas
numbered from 0 to
(n-1)
= 1+e
jx
+e
j2x
+e
j3x
+.+e
j(N-1)x
= (1-e
jNx
) (1-e
jx
)
|| = |(1-e
jNx
) (1-e
jx
)|
= [sin(Nx2) sin(x2)]
= (7) array factor
x2 = (6d2)cos7 + -2
Linear Array
N element array
inear array is the most common and most analyzed array
structure
t consists of elements arranged on a straight line. The array
characteristic can be analyzed by placing two radiating elements
side by side horizontally.
To simplify the derivation, the element is assumed to be an
infinitesimal dipole and no coupling exists between the two
elements.
Then the total field is the vector sum of the field generated by
each element as shown by the following equation. The two
elements are shown in next figure by a bold arrow perpendicular
to z axis.
igure of Geometry of two-element array positioned along the
z-axis.
(a) Two infinitesimaI dipoIes (b) Far- fieId observation
t is obvious that that the total field of the two elements is
a multiplication of a factor which is commonly referred
as the array factor (A).
The total field pattern can be varied using the array
factor since the separation, d andor the excitation
phase, between the elements.
The array factor will be simpler if the elements have
equivalent amplitude, phase and spacing.
- Llement Array
Uniform amplitude and spacing
Array of N numbers of elements of identical magnitude
and progressive phase array, in general as shown in
next figure.
The total field can be obtained by multiplying the array
factor of a single element.
The array factor can be obtained by again assuming the
elements to be point sources to simplify the derivation.
Far-fieId geometry of N-eIement array positioned aIong the z-axis
The maximum value of the equation above is equal to N.
To normalize the array factors so that the maximum value of each is
equal to unity we divide the array factor by N. The normalized form
of A can be written as follows
The total field can be obtained by just multiplying the array factor
with the field of the single element at a selected reference point.
This is referred to as pattern multiplication for continuous sources.
Where Eo is the electric field of a single element at a selected
reference point.
The array factor can be alternatively expressed by
A= sum ( )
) (7 a
on-Uniform Weight and Uniform Spacing
n previous derivations the array factor assumed that all elements
had uniform amplitude (normalized to 1).
t is obvious that the array will have side lobes as the number of
element increases. The spacing between two neighboring
element is also an important factor in reducing the side lobes.
The presence of side lobes means that the array is radiates and
receives energy from unintended direction.
n multipath environment, the sidelobes can cause the system to
receive the same signals from multiple angles which then
increases the fading.
The sidelobes can be reduced by implementing beamforming
weights, or beamshaping weight to the array element .
There are a number of possible beamshaping functions such as
Binomial, Blackman, hamming, Kaiser-Bessel and etc.
Simulation o linear N element patch
antenna
The linear arrays up to 8 elements were compared in
igure below
the minimum return loss for each port decreases further
as the number of element increases
as the spacing is increased, the antenna become more
directive, but it produce more side lobes.
linear array is design with spacing 0.5lamda, purpose to
minimize number of side lobe
or the gain, as number of elements is increased, the
gain is increased respectively and the beamwidth narrow
down further and further in azimuth direction
2 elements
4 elements
8 elements
ResuIt and AnaIysis of N-eIements Linear Array
Sparameter
2 elements 4 elements 8 elements
The gain increases as the no. of
eIement in Iinear array antenna
increases.
Side Iobes increase
Beamwidth more narrow
8 eIements
2 eIements
4 eIements
2 eIements
4 eIements
8 eIements
2 eIements
4 eIements
0. 5
1
1. 5
2
30
210
0
210
90
2Z0
120
300
150
330
180 0
1
2
3
30
210
0
210
90
2Z0
120
300
150
330
180 0
2
1

8
30
210
0
210
90
2Z0
120
300
150
330
180 0
The pattern is different
between simuIation (IE3D)
and caIcuIation (MatIab)
resuIt.
This is due to the existence
of mutuaI coupIing that
occur in simuIation design.
a)IE3D simulation b)Matlab simulation
0. 5
1
1. 5
2
30
210
0
210
90
2Z0
120
300
150
330
180 0
1
2
3
30
210
0
210
90
2Z0
120
300
150
330
180 0
2
1

8
30
210
0
210
90
2Z0
120
300
150
330
180 0
2 eIements
4 eIements
8 eIements
3D iew
2 elements 4 elements 8 elements
2 elements
4 elements
8 elements
2, 4 and 8 eIements Linear Array with singIe ports
Sparameter
2 elements 4 elements 8 elements
The gain increases as the no. of
eIement in Iinear array antenna
increases.
Side Iobes increase
Beamwidth more narrow
8 eIements
2 eIements
4 eIements
2 eIements
4 eIements
8 eIements
2 eIements
4 eIements
3D iew
2 elements 4 elements 8 elements
!lanar Array
!lanar array provides additional variables to
control the array pattern in 3 space.
!lanar array are more versatile and provide
more symmetrical patterns with lower side
lobes.
t can be used to scan the main beam of the
antenna toward any point in the space. t is
applied in the field of radar, remote sensing,
communication and many others.
The planar arrays were assumed to be
positioned in a grid figure below.
This is not necessary for a regular planar
antenna operation, but it simplifies the
derivation.
igure: ar field Geometry for MxN element planar array
(50)
1
) cos sin )( 1 (

M
m
kd m f
m
x x
e w AF
. 7
Array actor for x-axis
where
2 = excitation coefficient of each ele2ent
dx= spacing along x axis
x=progressive phase shift along x-axis
Array actor for y-axis

3
kd 3 f
3
x x
e w AF
1
) sin sin )( 1 (
(51)
. 7
where
n = excitation coefficient of each ele2ent
dy= spacing along y axis
y=progressive phase shift along y-axis
The array factor is found to the product of both vertical and horizontal array factor
) sin sin )( 1 (
1
1
) cos sin )( 1 (
(53)

x x
kd 3 f

3
3 3
M
m
kd m f
m xm
3 xm
e w AF
e w AF
where
AF AF AF
. 7
. 7

RosuIl & AnaIysis of M x N IIanai Aiiay
2x2 !lanar Array Antenna
3x3 !lanar Array Antenna
4x4 !lanar Array Antenna
S parameter
2 x2 elements 4 x 4 elements 8 x 8 elements
Wl shovs lhal, lho gain incioasos noio
iapidIy conpaiod lo Iinoai aiiay as
pIanai sizo is incioasos.
WMoioovoi, lho loanvidlh pioducod is
nuch naiiovoi conpaiod lo Iinoai
aiiay
WNunloi of sido Iolos pioducod is
nininizod conpaiod lo Iinoai
8x8 eIements
2x2 eIements
4x4 eIements
Mat!ab V5 IE3D
2 x 2 Planar array with 1 port
#08:!t and Ana!y88 nf Fabr.atnn
$ingle !atch Antenna
4x4 !lanar Antenna $ingle !ort
4-Elements inear $ingle !ort
2-Elements inear $ingle !ort
$11 = -11.07 at fr=2.000
SingIe eIements
a) IE3D b) Network AnaIyzer
$11 = -15.68 (at fr = 2.01Gz)
Two eIements Iinear array
a) IE3D b) Network AnaIyzer
4 eIements Iinear array
a) IE3D b) Network AnaIyzer
$11 = -20.09 at fr=2.01Gz
2 x 2 eIements pIanar array
a) IE3D b) Network AnaIyzer
$11 = -9.077 at fr = 2.06Ghz
n circular array, the elements are placed in a ring.
Circular array are often used in applications that required
360
0
coverage in azimuth.
$uch applications include smart antenna, radio direction
finding, air and space navigation, underground
propagation, sonar and radar..etc
Circular Array
Circular Array
Array actor
Circular Array
Radiation pattern o uniorm circular array
At phi= 0 degree
At phi= 90 degree
3 D pattern o uniorm circular array
or N= 10
Principle plane amplitude patterns o array actor or
uniorm circular array antenna o N~10 elements
Antenna Arrays: Beneits
!ossibilities to control
irection of maximum radiation
irections (positions) of nulls
Beam-width
irectivity
evels of sidelobes
using standard antennas (or antenna collections)
independently of their radiation patterns
Antenna elements can be distributed along straight
lines, arcs, squares, circles, etc.